Circuit closer



Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

PATENT 0 1,707,s73 FFICE,

EMILE POULIN, or CENTRAL r ALLs, nnonn ISLAND.

CIRCUIT oLosEn.

Application filed December 16, 1926. 7 Serial No. 155,202.

This invention-relates to circuit closers and particularly to a door operated circuit closer. This invention comprehends the provision of an improved door operated circuit closer, particularly adapted for use in refrigerators and the like, so that the first opening of the door will operate a switch to close and energize a light circuit in the refrigerator which will remain energized upon the closing of the door, and which upon the subsequent opening of the door will operate the switch to open the light circuit so that the same will remain-open upon closing of the door and be reset for the closing of the circuit in the following opening movement of said door, in order that the refrigerator or other chamber may be entered for the removal of material and upon leaving lights in the chamber will he sity of operating a switch in entering and leaving the refrigerator or other. chamber for controlling the light. v

The invention more particularly comprehends the provision of a special circuit closer construction and operating mechanism adapted for association with a door so that successive opening 'movements of the door will alternately operate the circuit closer to alternately close and open the circuit controlled thereby through the special construe .tion and operation of the circuit closer and its operating mechan sm. I H

Theinvention comprehends numerous objectsresiding in the specific construction and association of the partsforcarrying out the invention which arc more particularly poin ed out in the following" detailed description and in the claims directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood however that various changes in-the size, shape and relation of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is an elevationalview of a door and surrounding structure illustrating the switch mechanism of this invention applied theretoin operative position;

Fig.2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3'is an opposite side elevation of the switch mechanism from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. i is a sectional viewtaken on'the line 4-4 of Fig.

signed for useextinguished, eliminating the necesparallel posts 8 Fig. 5 is a view similar to F ig. 3, with portions shown in longitudinal section and with the switch mechanism and associated parts in the position assumed when the switch is closed for energizing, the circuit controlled thereby. v

Fig. 6 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken'on line 66 of Fig. 3, parts being omitted, for the sake of clearness and illustration. v

7 is a perspective view of the primary operating lever.

lVhile this invention is particularly de in connection with refrlgerator doors, it is to be understood that it may well be used in conjunction with any other entrance structure utilizing a door where it is desired to close the electric circuits to energize lights in a chamber, building, or the like which are extinguished upon leaving the building and opening and closing the door for the second time.

A chamber or refrigerator structure is inbracket with laterallyextending portions 5 at the opposite ends thereof provided with feet 6 to secure the main body ofthe sup port in spaced relation to the structure 1 of the housing or refrigerator. ,-An insulating plate 7 is mounted on one end of the support' i to which is secured a pair of spaced around which are coiled suitable conductor:elements 9 having-terminals 10 projecting laterally. from the post and. terminating in spaced overlapping relation as shown. in Fig i which forms the terminals for an electric circuit which is to be controlled. The opposite ends of the coil Wires 9 are extended through the insulating plate 7 and secured to suitable binding'posts 11 mounted on the opposite cornersof the plate member 7. I I

Between. the binding member 7 is recessed asindicated at 12 and through which extends the supporting bracket 13. having the laterally extending upper free ends which receive the screw 14 adapted to removably secure the cover 15 over the switch contacts 10; This cover 15 is formed with a slot-ted portion 16 through which projects the slidemember 17-slidably posts 11, the plate mounted in the bifurcated end formed in the upwardly extending projections 18 of the guide plate 19.

The end of the slide member 17 projecting into the housing has an insulating block 20 secured thereto which projects upwardly within the casing cover and carries the movable contact member 21 on the up ier end thereof which is adapted to engage between the terminals 10 and close the electric circuit connected with said terminals, for retaining the slide member 1'? in assembled relation for said guide plate. 7

This slide member 171's adapted for limited. reciprocating motion in the bifurcated proj ections 18 and between said projections mounts a. rod to which is secured the coiled springs 2% at one end which are anchored at their opposite ends to the studs 25 secured to one of the bifurcated projections 18 so as to normally operate the slide member 1'? to move the contact 21 into disengaged relation relative to the terminals 10 and maintain the circuit controlled by said terminals de-energized.

The rod 23 projects through the opposite side 01 the slide member 1'? and supports a roller 28 while a collar 27 is mounted on the rod to retain the latch member 28 against the slide member shown in 6 and prevent lateral movement thereof on said rod. The free end of this latch member is provided with an enlarged head 29 projecting laterally relative to the main body of the latch and adapted for locking cooperation with the bifurcated projection 18 on the guide plate 19, at the end of the supporting bracket l to retain the slide member 17 with the movable contact 20 engaged with the terminals 10 as shown in Fig. 5, the shoulder formed at 30 co operating with the projection 18 in retaining the movable contact engaged with the terminals 10 against the tension of the springs A coiled spring 31 is secured to the collar 27 and the latch member 28 for normally moving the head 29 toward the projection 18 on the guide plate and in the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, the end portion of the head 29 engages with the ends of the projection 18 for purposes which will presently appear. Vv hat may be termed the back of the latch member 28 is formed with an arcuate contour as indicated at 32 with which engages the roller 33 carried by the primary opcratin lever 34 which is of L-shaped formation.

This operating lever 3 1 pivotally mounted at the juncture of the angularly extendlllf portion, on the angle bracl-zet removably secured to one of the projections 18 or the guide pl ale as shown in Fig. 5. This prima y operating lever 35 has a short arm 36 provided at its free end with a pivotally mounted trip member 3? which is normally retained in a predetermined position by the spring member 38 rotating the trip member on its pivot to engage the stop 39 carried on the operating lever.

This trip member o7 is adapted to engage the roller 26 on the slide member 1'7, and in pivotal movement in one direction, will move the slide member for engaging the movable contact 21 between the terminals 10, while in the opposite direction of movement of the lever, the trip member 37 will ride over the roller through rotation of the pivot agains the tension of spring 88 in order that it will operate he slide member in one direction only.

In the reciprocation of the slide member 17, between its opposite limits ol movement, which may be ascertained from the section in Figs. 3 and 5 respectively, the position of the latch member 28 controls the position of the primary operating lever on the bracket 35 through engagement of the arcuate surface 32 with the roller 33, the primary operating lever being normally rotated in one direction to the positions shown in Figs. and 5, by means of a suitable coiled spring secured to the lever adj accnt the pivotal mounting ther of at one end and at the opposite end to an annular plate member lO carried by the pivot pin 41 mounted in the bracket 35 which carries the lever 3a. This spring is illus rated in Fig. 2 at 42.

The head 29 of the latch member and the free end of the long arm 4-3 of the primary operating lever Set are each provided with trip members l4: and l5 respectively, which are resiliently retained in the extended position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 by suitable resilient means operating the trip members on their pivotal mounting, and which are adapted for engagement to operate the lever and latch in one direction, while engagement with the trip in the movement in an opposite direction, will not operate the lever and latch but wil permit of an operation ot a trip member on their pivots to permit passage of the operating elements.

A bar member 16 is secured to the door 2 at one end and has the opposite end projecting beyond the upper edge thereof as shown in Fig. 1 carrying the operating element 4? which is adjustably connected thereto through the provision of the slot and bolt connection indicated at 4.8. The free end of the operating element 17 is provided with a crescent shaped head 49 having end. portions extended in angjgular relation "to the body portion as illustrated in Fig. 2.

lVith the construction above described, the primary operatin lever 34; will have the trip member 15 thereon projecting suliistintially beyond the end of the trip member 14 on the latch 28, r shown in 3, when the movable switch member 21 is in disengaged relation with the terminal 10 for (lo-energizing the circuit controlled thereby. In this position of the parts as shown in Fig. 3, the operating elements 47 on the door as the head 49 thereon is in a position to engage the trip member 45 and in the opening movement of the door from the position shown in Fig. 1, it will engageand operate this primary lever, while the trip member 44 on the latch member 28 will be withdrawn out of the plane of movement of the'head 49..

This operation upon the opening movement of the door will rotate the lever 34 on its pivot and move the trip member 37 to engage roller 26 so that the slide member 17 will be moved toengage the movable contact 21 between the terminals 10 and close the circuit controlled thereby. Upon completion of the movement of the slide member 13 by the member 34, the latch member 28 will move beyond the end of the projection 18 so that the shoulder 30 thereon will engage beyond the end of said projection and retain the slide member in the operated position with the movable contacts 21 engagedbetween the terminals 10.

The door is then moved to the full open position which permits the lever 34 to be moved toward the guide plate 19 by the action of the resilient member 42 and by reason of the change inposition of the arcuate surface onthe latch member, due to the movement'of the latch member toward the guide plate 19, the lever 34 will move on its pivot to a position as illustrated in Fig. 5, with the trip retracted from the projected position as shown in Fig.3.

v In this position of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 5, the latch member 28 is projected so that the trip member 44 thereon projects substantially beyond the trip member 45 on lever 34 so that in the closing movement ofthe door, the head 49 of the operating element 4'? will engage the trip member 44 and through the pivotal movement of said trip' member to return it to the position shown in Fig. 3, and thus disengage the movable contactmember 21 from contact with the terminal 10 and thereby opening the circuit controlled by said terminals.

In addition to this operation, the pivotal movement of the latch member from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. ,3, and its inward movement by the actuatlon of the slide member will also move the lever 34 through the arcuate surface 32 engaging with the roller 33 and again cause the projection of the trip member 45 into the path of movement of the head 49 of the operating element.

forth.

. It will thus be seen that in the subsequent closing movement of the door, the head will engage the trip and pivotally move the same on the lever while in 'the'subsequent opening movement, the trip 45'will be again engaged for operating the lever 34 and moving the movable contact member 21 into closed position. 7

- From the above description it should be clearly understood that the primary operating lever and the latch member control the operative positions oi one another so that only one of the trip members 44 and 45 which insure the operation of the lever and the latch member is projected into the path of the operating element carried by the door and that after either the latch member or the operating lever has been operated by the operating element on the door, it will move to an inoperative position and'operate the other element, so as to move the trip member into operative position.

' In this way, the opening and closing movement or the door will effect the operation of the movable contact member to close the circuit between the terminals 10 while the next opening and closing movement of the door will serve to permit the movement of the contact member to opening the circuit between the terminals 10, in this way providing a positive operation and control of the circuit closer formed bythe terminals 10 and the movable contact member 21.

It will thus be seen that by connecting the light circuit in a refrigerator to this improved circuit controller, that upon entering the refrigerator the opening of the door will light the light, which will remain lighted after the same has been closed, during the time the refrigerator or other compartment is occupied, and upon the second opening and closing or the door in leaving the refrigerator or other compartment, the lights will be extinguished through de-energization of the circuit, and in this way eliminating the necessity or operating a switch upon entering and leaving the chamber.

While this device is designed for application especially to refrigerators, as above set forth, it is to be understood that it may as well be applied to any other building construction where the automatic control of illumination of the building or chamber is desired to be operated and extinguished upon the entry and exit therefrom.

A substantially novel switch construction has thus been provided in which the primary operating lever and the latch member cooperate in a highly novel manner for the relative control of each other in producing the operation or" the circuit controller as above set Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In combination, a support, a circuit closer mounted on the support having a movable controlling element, a rectilinearly sliding member mounted on the support carrying said movable controlling element for the circuit closer, an operating lever for said slide member, a latch member mounted on said slide member for retaining the same in one position of operation, resilient means normally adapted to operate the slide member to retain it in another position of operation, and means for operating the lever and latch member in a predetermined manner for operating the slide member to close and open the control by said circuit closer in successive operations of the last named means.

2. In combination, a support, a circuit closer mounted on the support having a n1ovable controlling element, a rectilinearly sliding member mounted on the support carrying said movable controlling element for the circuit closer, an operating lever for said slide member, a latch member mounted on said slide member for retaining the same in one position of operation, resilient means normally adapted to operate the slide member to retain it in another position of operation, a trip member for said latch member disposed in the path of a moving object and ineli'ective for actuating the latch member for releasing movement when engaged by said object in its movement in one direction and arranged during its movement in the opposite direction for releasing the latch, whereby through the movement of the latch member to control said circuit.

3.111 combination, a support, a circuit closer mounted on the support having a movable controlling element, a rectilinear sliding element mounted on said support and carrying said movable controlling element for the circuit closer, an ope 'ating men'iber for said slide member, a latch member mounted on said slide member for retaining the same in one position of operation, resilient means normally adapted to operate the slide member to retain it in another position of operation, a trip member ca'ried by said latch member and said operating mcniber and disposed in the path of the moving object and adapted for latch releasing and lever operating movement when engaged by said object in its movement in one direction and inactive during its movement in an opposite direction, whereby through the movements thereof to control said circuit and interengaging means between said operating lever and the latch adapted to actuate the former ,pon the releasing movement of the latch to move the latch lever into the path of said object.

In testimony where-o1 I allh; my signature.

EMILE POULIN. 

